Mert is one of the  amazing people that I met during my stay in London. You can’t have failed to notice that he is a really handsome man. But still, there is more to him than meets the eye.

 

 

What I love the most about my visits for my blog is to explore various sides of people. He hasn't got a refrigerator in the kitchen for example. If you are hungry and looking for something to eat, don't search for it in the cupboards because kitchen cupboards are only to store his shoes. So maybe you can go out to grab some food (his house is in Columbia Road and here there are really nice cafes and bars) or ask him to take you out. His favorite restaurants are Bistrotheque, Viajante, and La Chapelle.

 

This quote of Charles Bukowski is written by him on the board after reading his book 'Factotum'. "..........If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods. And the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is. "

These black diaries are full of his thoughts, he likes to write every night before going to bed. 

When it comes to the decoration he likes to keep it as simple as possible like me. He doesn't like keeping anything except for his artworks. He doesn't keep any memories, photos etc. The decoration of the house belongs to him and he likes to choose avant-garde vintage pieces and mix and match them with minimal ones. Besides his artworks he has two line drawings of Abidin Dino and Yüksel Arslan hanging above the green couch. I don't know if you can notice from the picture but I really like that these two frames have different colored sides, one green and one red.

There are some friends whose homes can be revisited repeatedly as their worlds are everchangingly worthwhile each time I do so. I hadn't realize that it had been 2 years since our first shoot with her for ODA, but  out of nowhere, we both felt like we wanted another go at it. After all, what is better than photographing flamboyance and style--especially when they emanate from my good friend Dilara!

White mini dress is purchased from a vintage shop and it was on the cover of a Vogue magazine in the 60's.

Our roots and Istanbul, the city that where we were both raised in, is an infinite source for inspiration. I find us very lucky to be born in this charming city where many cultures merge together. Her tattoo is inspired by the tulips on Ottoman tiles.

She likes her blue Opening Ceremony velvet boots mostly because they remind her of  Moulin Rouge. They are my favorites too.